Improvement in car-couplings



l. GRAHAM.

Gar-Coupling.

Patented Feb. 2,187 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES GRAHAM, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT m CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,407, dated February2, 1875; application filed August 24, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES GRAHAM, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne andState of Michigan, have invented an Improved Car- Goupling, of which thefollowing is a specification:

The nature of my invention relates to an improvement in car'couplings ofthat class wherein the coupling together of the cars is efi'ected by thedropping of a barbed link into a slot'in the head of an opposingdraw-bar; and it consists in the peculiar construction of the draw-head,and the combination therewith of a rock-shaft carrying a barbed link,and two bumper-plates, having a longitudinal movement in the draw-head,a keeper for the engaged link, and a coupling-socket for the pilotdraw-bar of a locomotive, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure l is a perspective view, showing the link in the coupledposition. ig. 2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalvertical section at y y. Fig. 4. is a detached perspective view of therock-shaft, link, and the two bumper-plates.

In the drawing, A represents a cast-iron draw-head, having avertically-slotted head, partially closed by two end plates, a. In thesides are cored two longitudinal vertical recesses, b, intersected byslots 0 in the sides. B is a bumper-plate, playing freely in each recessb, and through an eye in the inner end of each is inserted a rock-shaft,0, extending through the slots 0 to the sides of the car,

where it may be provided with a hand-wheel or a crank, D, or any otherdevice for operating it. E is a harpoon-link, keyed at one end on therock-shaft, between the sides of the slotted draw-head. At its outer endis an eye, d. F is a box on top of the draw-head, with holes 0 e in bothfor the purpose of coupling, by means of an ordinary pin, the end of apilot-bar of a locomotive. G is a keeper, pivoted to the top of thedraw-head on either side of the slot.

'Io couple this draw-head with a similar one, throw down the link of theapproaching one, and throw up the link of the one on the sta tionarycar, resting it against the back end of the slot, which will cause thebumper-plates to protrude. As the cars come together these plates areforced in, throwing forward the link, which drops into the slot of theapproaching draw-head, its barbed end passing behind the end plates athereof to engage with the said draw-head, when the keeper is swung overit, to prevent it from raising out. The eye in the link serves to coupleit with'a car having an ordinary link-and-pin coupling.

What I claim as my invention is- The slotted draw-head A, having therecesses b b, slots 0 o, bumper-plates B B, rockshaft 0, and link E, allcombined substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES GRAHAM.

Witnesses:

H. F. EBERTS, O. E. HUESTIS.

